DURHAM, N.C. — Michael Savarino, the grandson of retired Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, has entered the transfer portal and will use his final season of eligibility away from Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Savarino, who leaves the Blue Devils as a graduate transfer, rarely came off the bench during his career at Duke unless the game was decided, averaging 1.1 points in 11 games this season. Savarino is the son of Debbie Krzyzewski Savarino, the oldest daughter of Krzyzewski and his wife, Mickie. Debbie Savarino is an assistant athletics director at Duke.
Coach K retired after 47 years as a coach at the end of the 2021-2022 season after leading Duke to the Final Four. Jon Scheyer, 34, was named his successor before the season began.
Savarino made headlines earlier this season after he was arrested for DUI and freshman teammate Paolo Banchero was charged with aiding and abetting DUI.
According to authorities, a white 2017 Jeep SUV registered to Banchero was pulled over for a stop sign violation on Sunday, Nov. 14, at 1:10 a.m. by the North Carolina Highway patrol in Orange County. Savarino, 20, was behind the wheel and Banchero was in the back seat, police said.
According to an arrest report obtained from the Orange County District Court, Savarino submitted to two breathalyzer tests and blew a .08 BAC. According to the report, the arresting officer said he smelled alcohol on Savarino’s breath.
More:Duke’s Coach K responds to DWI charges against Paolo Banchero, grandson Michael Savarino
Savarino’s departure comes a day after sophomore center Mark Williams declared for the NBA Draft, becoming the first Duke player from the 2021-2022 roster to do so.
The 7-footer from Virginia Beach averaged 11.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.8 blocks during the 2021-2022 season, was named the ACC defensive player of the year and was a finalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. He is projected as a mid- to late first-round pick. He announced his decision later Monday afternoon on social media.
Duke’s Banchero, Trevor Keels, A.J. Griffin and junior Wendell Moore are also expected to make NBA Draft decisions over the next several days.
David Thompson is an award-winning reporter for the USA Today Network covering NC State and Duke athletics. He can be reached at [email protected], at 828-231-1747, or on Twitter at @daveth89.
